Here are my suggested topic:

1. Design of road and cycling track

    Many of the roads and cycling tracks are inherently dangerous to cyclists due to their design. e.g.

    (a) The openings in the roadside gully gratings are longitudinal slots instead of the more common rectangular openings design.  Although most of these slots are oriented diagonally to the direction of traffic flow, the outermost slot is indeed parallel to the road and has been proofed to be wheel trapping (see the photo on the www.hkcyclist.com webpage).  It is even worst in case the gullies are placed in a turn where the slots may become parallel to the bicycle. When the wheel is trapped in these slots it is quite likely to cause a fall.

    (b) Many roads are now constructed in concrete with longitudinal joints running all along the roads.  Due to wear and tear, the sealant material for the joints will disappear after some time, leaving a wide enough gap to trap a wheel. Due to damage to the road surface, uneven settlement of the sub-grade, or poor workmanship of construction, one side of the joint may be higher than the other side. When the wheel is at a slight angle to the edge of the joint it is again rather likely to lose balance. Tarmac roads on the other hand do not have these joints and are therefore safer.

     It is a pity that the engineers have continued to adopt this faulty design without realizing the high risks and pressure to cyclists riding on the roads.

2.  Maintenance of roads and cycling track

    Many of the roads and cycling tracks are not properly maintained.  The potholes, irregularities etc. all add to the risks of cyclists losing their balance, especially in heavy traffic typical of Hong Kong roads where the cyclists have less space to maneuver.

3.  Operation of roads and cycling track

    Operators of the roads and cycling tracks should have tighter control on the operation of the road.  IIlegal parking, roadside loading and unloading etc. greatly increase the risk to cyclists.  Wet flexible hose placed at every angle to the direction of traffic on the road, often seen outside construction sites, is almost impossible to avoid from crashing when riding over them.  The operators should therefore issue guidance notes to relevant personnel regarding roadside activities and prosecute them as necessary.

4.  Unfriendly purposely added obstacles on the cycling tracks

    While even the insane would realize that bollards placed right in the middle of a highway is a very dangerous practice, designers of cycling tracks seem to believe that such bollards are indispensable in cycling tracks for no obvious reasons.  Like the taking off and landing of aircraft, the mounting and dismounting of bicycles are the moments when bicycles are most likely to lose balance, so the more often the cyclists have to stop and dismount, the greater the chances of a fall.  Bollards also created bottlenecks where inexperienced cyclists would likely to have collisions with each other.

5.  Incorrect message delivered to other road users regarding cycling safety

    Cyclists, unlike car drivers, do not have the external shield to protect them in accidents.  Bicycles also lack the braking power and fast acceleration of motor vehicles, and the ability of pedestrians to move in any directions at will.  Bicycles and cyclists therefore play mostly a passive role in the avoidance of accidents.  Yet cyclists are often seen as the ones to blame in accidents, with the police spokespersons quick to jump out and warn cyclists about prosecution.  This attitude deliver a very wrong message to other road users and will not help in improving road safety.

6.  Wrong advice on cycling skills related to safety

   All cyclists rich in experience with cycling on the roads know that it is more dangerous to ride closer to the road side than not.  The Transport Department however advise cyclists to ride close to the kerb.  We really doubt that they are more concerned with the feeling of motorists than the safety of cyclists.

7.  The need to promote cycling for improving overall road safety

    More bicycles on the roads means the roads would be a lot safer to all users.  Bicycles are very light, a lot lighter than the human body.  They have very little threat on the safety of other road users.  More bicycles also mean the other motorized vehicles have to drive more slowly, again improving overall road safety.  The only reason we could think of for the government’s preference of motorized vehicles over bicycles is that speed is more important than safety, yet even this advantage of motorized vehicles is quite doubtful due to the traffic congestion problem in reality.